Hub cap



Feb. 28, 3928. 1,660,728

c. L. STOKES HUB CAP Filed Oct. 29. 1925 I N VEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

A STATES PATEN E.

HUB CAP.

Application filed October 29, 1923. Serial No. 671,588.

My invention relates to improvements in hub caps, whereby a wheel spindle enclosed by the hub cap may be lubricated without removing the hub cap.

' The principal object of my invention is to provide a hub cap of novel construction for forcing lubricants under high pressure to the interiorofthehubcap without removing the same from the wheel hub to which it is attached.

Referring to the drawings in which the same numbers indicate like parts:

Fig. 1 is a cross section and view of my hub cap.

Fig. 2 is a view looking at the hub cap from its outer end.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view.

' Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the hub cap on the outer end of the spindle and showing a grease gun in position for forein grease into said cap.

11 present day automobile practice, it is customary to attach a hub cap 1 to the hub of a wheel 9 by a screw thread 8. Within the hub is carried the wheel spindle 10, and 9 is held in position on 10 by a lock nut 11 and suitable washers and roller bearings (not shown).

The hub cap lis usually constructed having a hexagonal outer portion 12 for receiving a wrench (3; which 1 is attached to 9 and, being fill with lubricant, forces the same around the spindle 10 when 1 is attached to 9 by 8.

This method of lubricatin the spindle 10 is very diificult because the t reads in porti'on 8 must be very fine in order to hold the lubricants within 1 and therefore when the same threads are used against the pressure of the lubricants being forced by 1, they are ve often cross-threaded and thereby destroyed, to the end that hub cap 1 is lost. from ofi hub 9 and spindle 10 and its surrounding roller bearmgs becomeinjured through the loss of lubricant and the dust which obtains entry.

In the practice of lubricating machine parts onautomobiles at the present day, there is in vogue a system of high pressure lubrication whereby solid greases are forced into bearin under high pressure and this forcing is y means of a high pressure grease bricant and which co-acts with a suitable high pressure nipple attached to the bearretaining the samewithin 1.

n which contains the solid lux ing for receiving and retaining the grease.

I construct my hub ca 1 in such fashion that such a ni ple may e attached thereto, whereby spin 1e 10 may always be successfully lubricated without removing the cap from the hub 9 and, at the same time the nipple is protected from injury and loss in a novel manner.

In general, hub caps are generally fashioned in a stamping process out of thin sheet metal and in the process of forming hub cap 1, I arrange that a central portion 2 is depressed within the plane of the outer edge of 1. The depressed portion contains a suitable boss 3 wherein is screwthreaded a nipple 4 for receiving lubri cants from the exterior of 1 and passing and Such a nipple embodies a valve 5 retained 1n positlon y a spring 6. and the general custom is to putt e t1p or couplin member 15 of the grease 16 over t e nipple 4, whereupon 5 is depressed and the lubricants under pressure are forced within 4 to the interior of 1,-the grease being positively locked and held on 4 y means of the coupling 14, such structure being generally described in U. S. Patents 1,307,733 and 1,307,734.

In order to prevent loss of 4, it is desirable to have the lane of its outer edge within the lane of t e outer edge of 12, so that even t ough 12 should e accidentally struck and distorted, nonetheless 4 would be rotected from injury and continue to per orm its function of receiving. and holdm lubricants in 1.

A t is desirable to exclude dust from reaching the nipple 4 and therefore a small dust cover 7 is provided for closing the depressed portion in 1 and 7 is made easily attachable and detachable b a button 13.

In some cases ub caps are made wherein 12 is round instead of hexagonal, in which .case it is obvious that the depressed portion ma be made of hexagonal cross-section but vWil perform the same function.

Thus it may be seen that my hub cap oifers a quick and ready method of lubricating the spindles of wheels without removing the hub cap from the same so that the spindles .may be frequently and easily lubricated and at the same time the lubricating means are amply protected against injury...

Many people overlook lubricating their wheel spindles but the application of myhub;

7 cap is now a constant reminder and invitation to attend tothe lubricatin bearings as the tomobiles.

I claim of such front wheel spind es on au- L In combination, a lubricant holding 2. The combination with a wheel hub surrounding a spindle of a hub cap, having a depression, means to fasten the hub cap to' the hub, means for forcing lubricants into said cap to lubricate thespindle; said last mentioned means including a grease gun V nipple fastened in'said depressed portion of the hub cap, a pressure grease gun enga mg said nipple for forcing a lubricant into sald cap, and means for preventing the rcturn How of said lubricant. I v

3. The combination with a wheel hub sur? rounding a spindle of. a hub cap having a central depressed portion, means to fasten. the hub cap to the hub, a nipple fastened in said depressed central portion of the hub cap, and a pressure grease gun attached to said ni pie for forcing lubricant into said cap to In ricate the spindle, the internal diameter of said depresslon being greater than the external diameter of the nipple attaching portion of said grease gun.

4. A lubricant holding hub cap havi a weaves 5. Alubricant holding hub cap called 7 for in claim' i, wherein the check valve opens inwardly and is coaxially of said cap.

6. A vehicle wheel hub cap having a recess of any design to the dpth of a rease gun tip, whichvis engaged in the hu cap y altapped or tight hole, and a dust cap to enclose tip and recess.

I 7. A lubricant holding outwardly opening depression, a nipple fixed in'the cap 'and extending outwardly within the depression butnot beyond its rim, and an. inwardly opening check valve within the depression. 1

t 8. A; lubricant holding hub cap having a nut portion provided with an outwardly opening depression in its end and an opening through the cap in communication with the depression, a lubricant nipple fixed to the cap at the opening and projecting outwardly within the depression a distance not exceedin the depth thereof, and an in Wardly opening valve in said nipple.

9. In combination, a lubricant holding hub cap having a nut portion provided with an axial end depression, thei bottom of saidv depression being provided with an axial opening, a grease gun nipple secured in said openm and extending axially outwardly into said depression a distance not further than the outer end of said cap, vandv aninwardly o ening check valve in saidnipple.

Signe at Wilmington, in the County of hub cap having an Los Angeles and State of California, this 76 24th day of September, A. D. 1923'. v v

' as LAWRENCE 'sToKEs. 

